Rnib Talking Books

The Scottish Book Trust, for Book Week Scotland, distribute a free book of new writing around a chosen theme ... this year's it's "Blether." RNIB produce the audio version of that book, and today's show is a small selection of 15 short stories and poems, all read by their authors. We couldn't cram the whole book into an hour, and the stories here are less than half of what's in the whole book which you can listen to here.

On this edition of The Audiobook show, Chris Lintott discusses ‘The Sky at Night’ and the astronomical power of The Zooniverse. (Starts at 0.57)   Jane Clarke introduces Red Szell to some awesome egg-speriments! (22.25)   Actor Robin Kermode has some surprising advice for Robert Kirkwood on improving your public speaking (41.52) And we return to Chris Lintott for the Books of His Life (50.52)

On this week's show, Marilyn Davidson Elliot introduces us to ‘The Blind Mechanic: The Amazing Story of Eric Davidson, Survivor of the 1917 Halifax Explosion’ - NB recorded on the phone from Canada, sorry about the sound quality. (Starts at 1.19) We go in search of lost yeti treasure with Amelia Fang creator Laura Ellen Anderson. (18.38)   Sita Brahmachari imagines a post-apocalyptic world in which children must pollinate plants. (32.50)   And writer Gary Younge shares the books of his life. (46.56)

In today's audiobook show, Benjamin Myers discusses his haunting coming-of-age novel ‘The Offing’. (Starts at 0.54)   We eavesdrop on the afternoon an RNIB narrator, Stephanie Ellyne, met Lucy Ellmann, the author of the book she is reading. (22.32)   Red celebrates Halloween by reviewing an atmospheric ghost story by Helen Dunmore. (41.17) And we return to Ben Myers for the Books of His Life (48.53)

Lynne Truss tackles crime and bad grammar in 1950s Brighton. (Starts at 1.03)   Patricia Cornwall launches her new cyber crime series after conducting her own investigations at NASA. (19.26) Stephanie Ellyne talks about narrating a thousand page novel with just eight sentences. (35.22) And we return to Lynne Truss for the books of her life. (48.22)

In today's show we listen to the Booker winning audiobooks, 'Girl, Woman Other' by Bernardine Evaristo and 'The Testaments' by Margaret Atwood (Starts at 1.07) Salman Rushdie tells us about the joint narratives of 'Quichotte' (13.02) We return to the Wigtown Book Festival where founder of The Big Issue, Lord Bird, reveals how learning to read saved him from a life of crime. (28.02)   Journalist Melanie Reid discusses coming to terms with disability and recording her memoir as a Talking Book. (37.00)   And Professor Steve Jones shares some fascinating facts about the vital role the sun plays in our lives. (45.42)

In our second Booker Prize special,  Elif Shafak discusses her sensual novel ’10 Minutes 38 Seconds in This Strange World’. (Starts at 1.52)   Chigoze Obioma reveals the real-life tragedy that inspired his novel ‘An Orchestra of Minorities’. (19.43)   Margaret Atwood unveils her sequel to ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’. (30.14) And we return to Elif Shafak for the Books of her Life (50.10)

In a packed show Red Szell and Robert Kirkwood report from the Wigtown Book Festival with ... Former Home Secretary Alan Johnson on his book, 'In My Life: A Musical Memoir' (Starts at 1.34) Kerry Hudson on Lowborn (Down the Chipper) (7.00) Shaun Bythell has some 'Confessions of a Bookseller' (13.41) Sarah Jane Douglas treats illness and grief as 'Just Another Mountain' (21.08) Chair of RNIB Scotland Sandra Wilson on sponsoring a Talking Book (25.03) Music from, and chat with, The Bookshop Band (27.08) We go 'Under the Wig' with William Clegg QC (36.00) Richard Frazer describes his 'Travels with a Stick' (41.04) Jon Day races pigeons and combines memoir, philosophy and culture in 'Homing' (44.49) And we get the Books of Your Life from stand up classicist Natalie Haynes. (51.03)  Thanks to @MarkMcKie1 for the cover picture depicting fireworks over Wigtown.

We’re checking out some of the titles short-listed for this year’s Booker Prize.   Bernardine Evaristo reflects on the vibrant lives of 12 black, British women in her novel ‘Girl Woman Other’ (Starts at 1.00) Joanna MacGregor tells us about the tsunami of books she had to read as a Booker judge. (26.39)   Lucy Ellmann takes us into the strange world of her eight sentence novel ‘Ducks Newburyport’ (36.30) And we return to Bernardine Evaristo for the books of her life. (43.30)

A packed show this week with Red Szell out and about at a party and a picnic ...   A chat with Eve Smith from the Booker Foundation at the 2019 shortlist party.(Starts at 1.14)   Chris McQueer tells Robert Kirkwood how he started writing. (8.35)   Mary Beard on history books and contemporary politics. (17.25) From RNIB Library, Lynne Livingston gives us some new book recommendations. (28.28)   We hear some familiar voices enjoying The Audiobook Workers Picnic. (34.25)    And Mr Gum author Andy Stanton shares the books of his life. (48.05)

As his books 'Hings' and 'HWFG' are released in audio, author Chris McQueer joins Robert Kirkwood in the RNIB Talking Book Studios to chat about writing, narrating and ending up in Twitter jail.

As the 2019 shortlist is announced, Robert Kirkwood and Red Szell listen back to some past Booker winners 2018 - Red reviews Milkman by Anna Burns (Starts at 1.20) 2017 - Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders (4.38) 2016 - The Sellout by Paul Beatty (15.42) 2015 - A Brief History of Seven Killings by Marlon James (23.58) 2014 -The Long Road to the Deep North by Richard Flanagan (33.10) 2013 - The Luminaries by Eleanor Catton (44.50) ... all interviews recorded before the winner of that year was announced.

Today we’re exploring life’s long and winding road ...   Celia Anderson transports us to Cornwall for a stroll down to '59 Memory Lane'. (Starts at 1.10)   Jackie Kay traces her roots along ‘The Red Dust Road’. (16.45)   Christopher Scott reflects on his career as a Talking Book narrator, and how it changed his life. (28.00) And we return to Celia Anderson for the books of her life. (46.30)

This week we’re investigating crime fiction: Patrice Lawrence discusses her eagerly anticipated new novel ‘Rose Interrupted’. (Starts at 2.04) Peter Robinson opens the case file on his best-selling detective DCI Banks. (14.10) Former Met Police Officer Kate London tackles knife crime in ‘Gallowstree Lane’. (29.40) Red investigates the crime story that made him want to become a writer. (37.00) And we return to Patrice Lawrence for the books of her life. (45.05)

Harriet Shawcross explores the awkwardness of silence in her book “Unspeakable”. (Starts at 1.00) Carolina Setterwall reveals how writing helped her navigate bereavement. (21.08) Zena Cooper takes an upbeat look at what you can see when you can’t see. (35.38) And we return to Carolina Setterwall for the Books of her Life. (48.43)

Today we’re manning the boats and taking to the sea.    Historian David Gange takes us on a journey of discovery around ‘The Frayed Atlantic Edge’ of Britain and Ireland. (Starts at 1.14)   Robert Kirkwood plunges into some books about The Titanic. (19.50)   Adventurer Mick Dawson recounts the highs and lows he encountered when rowing The Pacific. (31.30)   Coastal dweller Joanna Streetly discusses her ‘Wild Fierce Life’ beside, and in, the sea. (43.00) And we return to David Gange for the books of his life. (49.39)

Liz Fenwick transports us to the Cornish coast in her atmospheric new novel ‘The Path to the Sea’. (1.20)   Mark Billingham reveals how narrating his Thom Thorne detective thrillers has changed the way he writes them. (20.00)   The doyen of audio description Di Langford reflects on bringing books, plays, TV series and feature films to life for those of us who have difficulty seeing them. (36.15) And we return to Liz Fenwick for the books of her life. (52.12)

In a round up of some books we think you might pack in your suitcase, we listen back to ... Stuart Turton on 'The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle'  (Starts at 1.18) Joanne Ramos on 'The Farm' (7.31) Bart Van Es on 'The Cut Out Girl' (18.45) C.J. Tudor on 'The Chalk Man' and 'The Taking of Annie Thorne' (28.12) Lucy Foley on 'The Hunting Party' (36.40) And for the first time ever, Robert asks Red for The Books of His Life. (49.10)

Jess Butterworth takes us deep into the Louisiana swamp in her new novel ‘Swimming Against the Storm’. (Starts at 1.25)   Mr Gum author Andy Stanton reflects on how history can inform our view of the present. (11.53)   Jessica Townsend picks up the story of her cursed and magical heroine, Morrigan Crow, in ‘Wundersmith.’ (26.48) Blind author N.B. Dixon reviews a medieval adventure (42.18) And we return to Jess Butterworth for the books of her life. (49.28)

Celebrating 50 years since we first walked on the moon. Andrew Smith reveals the stories of what the moon walkers did next in a brand new reissue of ‘Moondust” (Starts at 2.08) Robert Kirkwood explores the works of fact and fiction inspired by space exploration. (21.15) Commander Chris Hadfield reflects on his time as an astronaut. (34.43)  And we return to Andrew Smith for the Books of his Life (46.15)